Functionalization of mesoporous SBA-15 silica by grafting of polyvinylamine on epoxy-modified surface

Mesoporous SBA-15 silica was modified by grafting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS).An influence of GPTMS/SBA-15 mass ratio used during this pre-functionalization step on the real amount of epoxy-silane grafted on the SBA-15 surface was studied by thermogravimetry and elemental analysis.The pre-functionalized SBA-15 was subsequently used to attach polyvinylamine (PVAm) chains by the opening of oxirane rings and the formation of bonds with NH 2 groups from PVAm.The yield of this process was determined.Furthermore, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), DRIFT (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) as well as zeta potential measurements were applied to observe the changes in the chemical composition of SBA-15 surface and morphology of the synthesized materials.Various types of organic functionalities present on the modified SBA-15 were identified and analyzed quantitatively.